Vladimir Putin’s “useful idiot” in the United States Senate, Senator Ron Johnson, who regularly spews Russian propaganda and here, and spreads internet conspiracies, used the first hearing into the January 6 seditious insurrection by Trump’s MAGA mob to spew more conspiracy theories in his ongoing effort to disappear the January 6 insurrection down the memory hole, pretending that it didn’t happen.
Earlier this year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorialized for Ron Johnson to resign for his trying to make the January 6 insurrection disappear down the memory hole with unhinged conspiracy theories. Editorial: Ron Johnson’s whitewash of the U.S. Capitol riot shows why Wisconsin’s senior senator has to go (excerpt):
To hear Ron Johnson tell it, nothing much happened on Jan. 6 inside the U.S. Capitol.
Just a few bad apples got a little rowdy.
“This didn’t seem like an armed insurrection to me,” the Oshkosh Republican told talk radio show host Jay Weber.
“I mean ‘armed,’ when you hear ‘armed,’ don’t you think of firearms? … How many firearms were confiscated? How many shots were fired?”
Johnson’s grasp on reality has been tenuous for years, but even more so since he aligned himself lockstep with former President Donald Trump.
* * *
From the week the votes were cast last November, Johnson helped spread Trump’s lie that the election was stolen, helped perpetuate the myth that voter fraud cost the former president the election. Johnson used the levers of government to spread the lie, calling a bogus Senate hearing to “investigate” election “irregularities.”
In fact, this election, held during a deadly pandemic, was the “most secure in American history,” according the nation’s lead cybersecurity agency.
Johnson joined Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., in threatening to vote against congressional recognition of Joe Biden’s state-certified victory on Jan. 6. They made this threat at Trump’s bidding even though Biden beat Trump by 7 million votes and won the same number of Electoral College votes as Trump had four years earlier. Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 by 2.9 million.
Johnson and the others offered no evidence supporting their allegation, a deception all the more ridiculous because dozens of Trump lawsuits claiming fraud had been laughed out of court, even by judges Trump named to the bench.
In short, Johnson was willing to throw out the legally cast votes of millions of Americans. He was willing to throw away democracy — government of the people, by the people, for the people — to serve Donald Trump.
* * *
Since Jan. 6, Johnson has repeatedly defended Trump and downplayed the threat that politicians, staff and police faced as Congress convened.
As insurrectionists roamed the Capitol, hunting for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and threatening to hang Pence, Johnson was oblivious. “I never felt threatened,” he told Weber.
The police officers who defended him, including one who gave up his life that day, certainly did.
* * *
As PolitiFact notes, assault weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found on people before and after the riot; more than 230 have been charged to date in the attack and 14 face federal charges related to bringing or using dangerous weapons inside the building.
Insurrectionists used stun guns, pepper spray, baseball bats, knives, brass knuckles, pipes, M-80 firecrackers, fire extinguishers, flag poles and anything they could get their hands on to attack police after Trump encouraged them to march to the Capitol. Some even brought cans of food, frozen to cause maximum damage when they hurled them at police. Homemade bombs were found near the Capitol and at both the Republican Party and Democratic Party headquarters.
* * *
Enough is enough, Wisconsin
Johnson must go.
It’s obvious now that he won’t do the honorable thing and resign after violating his oath to support and defend the Constitution. By what he has shown of his character, there is no reason to believe he will keep his campaign promise to not run for a third term when this one expires.
If he runs again, Johnson must be opposed in both the primary and general elections by people who care enough about democracy to support and defend it.
The Madison Capitol Times similarly editorialized, Editorial: Expel Ron Johnson from the Senate (excerpt):
As he did before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Johnson continues to use his Senate seat as a platform for spreading lies, peddling conspiracy theories, inciting anti-government extremists and undermining governance.
Biden did not take Johnson’s advice. Nor did responsible Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. But Johnson’s threat offers a reminder of that, while Trump merits impeachment and conviction, his co-conspirators in the House and Senate should be expelled for engaging in behaviors every bit as destructive as those of the former president.
* * *
Last week, seven responsible senators recognized that reality. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island; Ron Wyden, D-Oregon; Tina Smith, D-Minnesota; Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Tim Kaine, D-Virginia; and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, asked for an Senate Ethics Committee investigation of Republican Sens. Josh Hawley, of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas, “and perhaps others as investigation may reveal, in order to protect the integrity, safety and reputation of the Senate.”
Johnson’s name tops the “perhaps others” list.
Hawley and Cruz were the highest profile members of the Senate sedition caucus. But Johnson was, and is, the steadiest proponent of the lies and conspiracy theories that animated the fascist mob that attacked the Capitol. Unlike Hawley and Cruz, Johnson went so far as to use the committee he chaired in the last Senate to amplify the unfounded charges of election fraud that were at the center of Trump’s call for overturning the election results.
The letter to the Ethics Committee from Whitehouse and his colleagues encouraged the committee to provide “recommendations for strong disciplinary action, including up to expulsion or censure, if warranted by the facts uncovered.”
In the case of Johnson, the facts warrant expulsion. His lies, his abuses of his position and his threats to obstruct governing in order to thwart accountability for incitement of insurrection represent a rejection of his oath of office. He has no place in the United States Senate.
On Tuesday, Senator Ron Johnson was back at it again, trying to turn a serious inquiry into the Capitol security breach into a shitshow of disinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories. Ron Johnson Promotes Conspiracy Theory During Senate Hearing Blaming ‘Fake Trump Protesters’: They ‘Probably Planned This’:
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) read a report blaming “agent provocateurs” and people who “obviously didn’t fit in” for the attack on the United States Capitol on Jan. 6 — concluding that they “probably planned this.”
You mean this guy?
The senator read excerpts from a report by J. Michael Waller, a senior analyst for strategy at the Center of Security Policy, entitled I Saw Provocateurs At The Capitol Riot On Jan. 6 and published by The Federalist.
“At about 11:30, I walked from near Union Station … and noticed a small number of Capitol Police dressed in full riot gear, with shin guards and shoulder guards,” he read, adding that he then saw a “positive and festive” crowd leaving Trump’s “Save America” to walk down Constitution Avenue.
Johnson went on to read that Waller had noticed four types of people that “stood out” in the MAGA crowd, adding that they “obviously didn’t fit in” with the families in attendance or with those in “pro-police shirts.”
“Although the crowd represented a broad cross-section of Americans, mostly working-class by their appearance and manner of speech, some people stood out,” he read. “A very few didn’t share the jovial, friendly, earnest demeanor of the great majority. Some obviously didn’t fit in.”
He went on to describe the four groups he noticed stood out: “Plainclothes militants, agents provocateurs, fake Trump protesters, and then disciplined, uniformed column of attackers.”
“I think these are the people that probably planned this,” Johnson said.
Johnson continued to read the report, which noted that D.C. Metropolitan Police seemed to be acting normally on that day, but also claimed there was no law enforcement at the Capitol.
“Several marchers expressed surprise,” Johnson read, adding, “The openness seemed like a courtesy gesture from Congress, which controls security.”
The claim that Antifa or outside provocateurs were responsible for the riot has been repeatedly fact-checked, especially after The Washington Times published a report that falsely claimed a facial recognition firm said Antifa infiltrated and posed as pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol.
Senator Johnson was roundly condemned in the media yesterday for his stunt.
Yahoo News reports, Amy Klobuchar shuts down Ron Johnson’s conspiracy mongering at Capitol attack hearing:
On Tuesday, the former leaders of the Capitol Police and other authorities entrusted with protecting the Capitol building testified about the Jan. 6 attack, telling conflicting stories about what happened that day. One thing that clearly didn’t happen was what Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) shared during his chance to question the law enforcement leaders: An account of the day published in the conservative publication The Federalist alleging those who broke into the Capitol were seemingly professional provocateurs and not the “working-class” people seen protesting outside early in the day.
Ron Johnson is using his questioning time during the Capitol security hearing to promote a conspiracy theory that the January 6 insurrectionists weren't actually Trump supporters, but were "provocateurs" and "fake Trump protesters" pic.twitter.com/t72QkHDbaG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2021
That suggestion flew in the face of testimony from former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who said Tuesday that the attack was “pre-planned,” and insurgents were “well equipped, coordinated, and prepared to carry out a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol.” And when the hearing ended, Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) made it clear that Johnson’s allegations weren’t correct.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) closes out the Capitol insurrection hearing with what appears to be a nod to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI):
“There is clear agreement that this was a planned insurrection, and I think *most* members here very firmly agree with that.” pic.twitter.com/dyfeBCBcvZ
— The Recount (@therecount) February 23, 2021
At around the same time Johnson was sharing the conspiracy theory, federal prosecutors unsealed a case against a Capitol attacker who, in the weeks after the attack, had made it clear left-wing provocateurs weren’t behind the siege, HuffPost reports. Jose Padilla, prosecutors said, used online forums to detail his experiences at the insurrection, making it clear that “the guy breaking the windows weren’t antifa,” but rather “patriots.”
Not patriots, they are domestic terrorists.
Sen. Ron Johnson has been an ongoing national security threat to this country for some time now.
The Madison Capitol Times said it succinctly, and best: “In the case of Sen. Johnson, the facts warrant expulsion. His lies, his abuses of his position and his threats to obstruct governing in order to thwart accountability for incitement of insurrection represent a rejection of his oath of office. He has no place in the United States Senate.”
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Like Jose Padilla, “Anthony Aguero, a conservative livestreamer, activist and close associate of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, said on video following the January 6 assault on the Capitol that he had been among those who entered and attacked those who falsely claimed it was done by “Antifa.”
CNN reports “Close ally of Marjorie Taylor Greene among those in Capitol mob”, https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/kfile-marjorie-taylor-greene-close-ally-in-capitol-mob/index.html
A close ally of Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene took part in the January 6 mob at the Capitol and said he was among those who eventually made their way into the building.
Greene, a freshman congresswoman with a history of promoting dangerous and violent conspiracies and comments, encouraged the big lie that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump by voting to object to the election certification and fanned the flames of the insurrection by telling her supporters to “fight for Trump.”
In tweets after the Capitol insurrection, Greene falsely suggested that those who had broken into the Capitol were not Republicans and instead falsely implied so-called “Antifa” dressed as Trump supporters were to blame.
In fact, Anthony Aguero, a conservative livestreamer, activist and associate of Greene, said on video following the January 6 assault on the Capitol that he had been among those who entered and attacked those who falsely claimed it was done by “Antifa.”
“We were all there. It was not Antifa and it was not BLM. It was Trump supporters that did that yesterday. I’m the first to admit it, being one myself,” said Aguero in a video posted on January 7.
“I walked amongst all those people,” he added, later defending entering the Capitol.
.Greene and Aguero have worked closely together over the years on causes such as immigration and the border wall and have attended pro-Trump rallies together. In many since-deleted videos saved by CNN’s KFile, Greene repeatedly calls Aguero “amazing” and a “friend.” On social media, Aguero has called Greene “one of my closest friends.”
Before publication, it appears Aguero deleted the video from January 6 in which he appears on camera and says he “was able to make it inside the chambers.” He did not respond to CNN’s questions on this.
Aguero confirmed to CNN he was at the Capitol on January 6 and said he was an “independent journalist” there reporting the events. He also reiterated his support for Greene.
“I fully support Marjorie Taylor Greene. We need more great people like her. God bless her and her family,” said Aguero.
In the video he posted on January 7, Aguero claimed he had been among those who entered the Capitol and attacked those who falsely claimed it was done by “Antifa.”
“People that were saying, ‘We need to stand up for our rights,’ ” he added. “We need to stand up for our country. So patriots stand up for their country and they come out here to physically try to take back their house. The House of the people.”
“Now you have people on the right acting like they’re holier than thou, holier than holy,” he continued. ” ‘Oh, I’m appalled. I don’t condone this.’ What the hell do you expect conservatives to do? Do you want us to continue to sit there? Complacent, continue to take the higher route and keep getting fked in the a. I’m sorry for using that language, but I’m sick and tired of the hypocrisy.”
Later in the video, Aguero praised Greene for her actions contesting the election.
“I stand with people like Marjorie Taylor Greene proudly,” he added. “That woman has more courage than most of the men that were in that building. No, not most. That woman has more courage than every single man that was in that Capitol yesterday.”
The El Paso-based videographer, who sometimes goes by the moniker “Conservative Anthony” online, frequently documents the activities of right-wing activists and militias, including the Guardian Patriots, the border militia group formerly known as the United Constitutional Patriots, and the Proud Boys.
When Greene was temporarily banned from her personal Facebook page in May 2019, she used Aguero’s page to livestream. He has spent much of January and February expressing support for Greene on social media.
She was recently photographed with Aguero in Washington at the “March for Trump” rally, also known as the Million MAGA March, on November 14, 2020, where Greene spoke. Following Greene’s speech, Aguero can be seen accompanying her off the stage in a video of the rally. A November tweet of the pair at the rally was liked by Greene.